Guide Dogs of the Desert: Helping the Blind Enjoy Better Lives

Founded in 1972, Guide Dogs of the Desert is a non-profit organization established with the goal of providing quality guide dogs for blind and multi-handicapped blind people. It was incorporated and licensed under the laws of the State of California and of the Department of Consumer Affairs with the assistance of the Cathedral City Lions Club.

Today, the organization provides its beneficiaries with trained guide dogs with the purpose of enhancing their quality of life. Beneficiaries usually include the blind and multi-handicapped blind as well as people with special needs with the guide dogs trained to assist them in enjoying independence, safe mobility, and companionship.

Guide Dogs of the Desert has remained true to its original mission of ensuring that every legally blind should be provided with the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of a guide dog. Through the years, furthermore, the organization has included people with multiple disabilities, prosthetics, balance issues, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a certain level of deafness into its programs. Many of the organization’s clients also have chronic degenerative diseases, such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts as well as people who are blind from birth or due to accidents.

Due to its commitment to its clients with special needs, its classes are small so that personalized focus can be made on the unique needs of each client. Clients also do not pay for the services provided by Guide Dogs of the Desert but they have to meet stringent requirements.

The requirements for getting a guide dog include: legally blind; at least 18 years old; able to walk 30-60 minute routes at least 2 times a day; have previous formal orientation and mobility instruction; with leadership capabilities for leading an effective guide dog team; and emotionally stable. Applications along with the supporting documents, such as references, and reports from primary care physician and ophthalmologist/optometrist as well as an application video can be submitted online.